Recovery of Garter Snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis) from the Effects of Tetrodotoxin

2002 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 95
Author(s):  
Edmund D. Brodie III ◽  
Edmund D. Brodie Jr. ◽  
Jeffrey E. Motychak
Keyword(s):  
Thamnophis Sirtalis ◽  
Garter Snakes

scholarly journals Familiarity with a female does not affect a male’s courtship intensity in garter snakes Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis

2012 ◽  
Vol 58 (6) ◽  
pp. 805-811 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Shine ◽  
Jonathan K. Webb ◽  
Amanda Lane ◽  
Robert T. Mason
Keyword(s):  
Mate Choice ◽  
Current Theory ◽  
Thamnophis Sirtalis ◽  
Garter Snakes ◽  
Lizard Species ◽  
Female Body Size ◽  
Courtship Intensity ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Size Condition ◽  
Experimental Trials

Abstract In many animal species, males direct more intense courtship towards females they have not previously encountered, than towards females with which they have previously mated. To test the factors responsible for this “Coolidge Effect”, we need studies on a wide range of taxa – including those with mating systems in which we would not expect (based on current theory) that such an effect would be evident. The Coolidge Effect has been documented in several lizard species, but has not been looked for (and would not be expected) in snakes. We conducted experimental trials with red-sided garter snakes Thamnophis sirtalis pa-rietalis at a communal den in Manitoba, to see whether previous exposure to a female (either courting, or courting plus mating) modified male mate choice or courtship intensity. In keeping with prediction from theory (but contrary to an early anecdotal report), male garter snakes did not modify their courtship behaviour based upon their familiarity (or lack thereof) with a specific female. At least in large courting aggregations, male snakes may maximize their fitness by basing mate-choice upon immediate attributes of the female (body size, condition, mated status) and the intensity of competition (numbers and sizes of rival males) rather than information derived from previous sexual encounters.

Structural flexibility of the small intestine and liver of garter snakes in response to feeding and fasting

2002 ◽  
Vol 205 (10) ◽  
pp. 1377-1388 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Matthias Starck ◽  
Kathleen Beese
Keyword(s):  
Cell Proliferation ◽  
Small Intestine ◽  
Organ Size ◽  
Transitional Epithelium ◽  
Thamnophis Sirtalis ◽  
Garter Snakes ◽  
Liver Size ◽  
Mucosal Epithelium ◽  
Functional Features ◽  
Python Molurus Bivittatus

SUMMARYGarter snakes Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis feed frequently but also tolerate extended periods of fasting when food is unavailable. We studied the dynamics, reversibility and repeatability of size changes of the small intestine and liver using ultrasonography. We employed light and transmission electron microscopy and flow cytometry to study the tissue mechanism that drives this flexibility. We compared garter snakes that fed every other day,snakes that fed once a week and fasting snakes. In all feeding trials, the size of the small intestine and the liver increased rapidly after feeding. Constantly feeding snakes maintained an elevated level of organ size, while snakes that were fed only once a week showed a marked up- and downregulation of organ size. Histology revealed the mucosal epithelium to be a transitional epithelium that can change cell configuration considerably to accommodate organ size changes. Upregulation of small intestine and liver size was always associated with the incorporation of lipid droplets into enterocytes and hepatocytes. Cell proliferation was not involved in upregulation of organ size. In contrast, cell proliferation increased during downregulation of organ size, indicating that cells worn out during digestion were replaced. The dynamics of flexibility and the functional features of the tissue were the same as described for the Burmese python Python molurus bivittatus. We suggest that garter snakes employ the same energetically cheap mechanism of organ size regulation as pythons, which allows for rapid, repeated and reversible size changes with no cell proliferation involved. Comparative evidence suggests that the transitional mucosal epithelium is an ancestral character of snakes and that feeding ecology is not directly related to the cytological features of the mucosal epithelium.

Effects of intracoelomic alfaxalone–dexmedetomidine on righting reflex in common garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis): preliminary data

2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (6) ◽  
pp. 793-796
Author(s):  
Kelly Chen ◽  
Stephanie Keating ◽  
Danielle Strahl-Heldreth ◽  
Stuart Clark-Price
Keyword(s):  
Preliminary Data ◽  
Thamnophis Sirtalis ◽  
Garter Snakes ◽  
Righting Reflex

Quantitative genetics of maximal oxygen consumption in a garter snake

1990 ◽  
Vol 259 (5) ◽  
pp. R986-R992 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Garland ◽  
A. F. Bennett
Keyword(s):  
Oxygen Consumption ◽  
Maximal Oxygen Consumption ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Hemoglobin Level ◽  
Broad Sense ◽  
Thamnophis Sirtalis ◽  
Regression Equations ◽  
Garter Snakes ◽  
Environmental Correlation ◽  
Coefficients Of Variation

Broad-sense heritabilities and genetic correlations of maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), blood hemoglobin levels, and ventricle mass were estimated in a natural population of snakes. Traits were measured for six or fewer presumed full-sibling offspring from each of 45 wild-caught gravid garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis). VO2max was highly reproducible between replicate trial days (r = 0.88). In an attempt to reduce maternal effects, correlations of each character with body mass, snout-vent length, age at testing, litter size, dam mass, and dam snout-vent length were removed by computing residuals from multiple-regression equations. These residuals were used in subsequent genetic analyses. Approximate coefficients of variation of residuals were 16% for VO2max, 19% for hemoglobin level, and 13% for ventricle mass. Broad-sense heritabilities were highly significant for all characters [P less than 0.0001; VO2max heritability (h2) = 0.88; hemoglobin level h2 = 0.63; ventricle mass h2 = 0.41], suggesting that they could respond genetically to selection. Phenotypic correlations (rP) among residual characters were significant only between VO2max and ventricle mass (rP = +0.27). VO2max and ventricle mass exhibited a significant (broad-sense) genetic correlation of +0.64; this might facilitate the correlated evolution of these two traits in response to natural or artificial selection. Ventricle mass and hemoglobin level showed a significant environmental correlation of +0.43. Treadmill endurance crawling time (Evolution 42: 335-350, 1988) showed a weak but significantly positive rP with VO2max (rP = +0.17).

Pheromonal Mediation of Intraseasonal Declines in the Attractivity of Female Red-Sided Garter Snakes, Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis

2012 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily J. Uhrig ◽  
Deborah I. Lutterschmidt ◽  
Robert T. Mason ◽  
Michael P. LeMaster
Keyword(s):  
Thamnophis Sirtalis ◽  
Garter Snakes ◽  
Thamnophis Sirtalis Parietalis
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